Gypsy Moon

Chapter Fifty-eight: Sinah

. . . . . . (mid December-late January)

20wks

We broadcast my ultrasound appointment over the big screens in the packhouse. Almost a hundred wolves waited as breathlessly as the half dozen shifters in the room with me while the little tech rolled the scanner across my abdomen. She giggled every time she pointed out a foot or a hand and was answered by the massive crowd cooing over Lilian's tablet.

Lilian had to mute them when the technician announced my baby was male so the cheering wolves wouldn't blow out her speakers. We could still hear them outside. If the tech hadn't been a wolf, Aiden would have cracked her ribs when he hugged her.

22wks

I didn't realize my shoes no longer fit until this morning. I'm not sure what sense that makes, but I suppose I'll wear sandals for the next several weeks. Good thing Gyam won't let me out of the house. I shouldn't have to worry about the chilly weather.

The kitchen wolves got in a fight over my diet. I didn't realize how much planning was going into my food. I decided not to tell them I hadn't eaten an egg in six weeks. Gyam and I constantly trade food, and those are his favorites, and the smell makes me nauseous.

The packhouse feels empty at night now. Most of the pack moved to the dorm last week. A few groups stayed in the pack house, but most of the suites are completely unoccupied now. A little more than half the apartments in the dorm have residents.

24wks

I had a wolf seeking my abilities arrive. He'd been poisoned and his wounds weren't healing. Gyam could barely handle the man being close to me, but the wolf was in enough pain to ignore Gyam's looming form and kneel in front of me while Selene cleared the poison from his body. He asked to stay and help build as payment; I have a feeling he'll be joining Gypsy Moon before long.

I don't know how Lilian is keeping up with all the new arrivals. We've had six show up in the last two days. Everybody has name tags; I have no idea where she keeps getting them from. She stuck a blank name tag on the front of my belly and now there is a whiteboard in the common room covered in name suggestions.

Lilian will only name two candidates a day. Aiden adds the new pack members every morning, and they go on his run with him. The pack has a hundred and thirty wolves now. Everyone helps with construction somehow, the kitchen wolves have gotten food prep down to a fine art, and Tia and Alec volunteered to watch the dozen younger children during the day.

26wks

Now the whiteboard has a voting system on it for baby names. Of course, Optimus Prime is in the lead because my mate is a toddler. The normal names are battling between about a dozen now, it's been amusing.

We discovered my cub will occasionally respond to stimuli now, noticeably. Gyam won't let anyone touch my stomach, but the pack has taken to growling at my belly to greet the cub. Most of the time, he kicks in response, to everyone's delight.

The pack is up to a hundred and fifty wolves. The medical center will be done soon. No one wanted to work on anything else after someone wondered if it would be done in time to have my cub there.

28wks

The baby's name battle is down to six names. And Darth Vader. Aiden said that voting for one of the normal names might show favoritism. I pointed out it's his cub, he's supposed to show favoritism. He countered that it was also the entire pack's first cub, and their future Alpha.

Tia turns sixteen in three weeks. We are almost positive Gyam is her mate, he's started to get upset when he hasn't seen her in a while. She enjoys the excuse to join us whenever she can, as she is clearly attracted to him.

I can't blame her. Robert visited Gyam the other day and the pair are almost perfectly identical. Gyam likes keeping his hair long and the brand on his eye might never heal fully, but the two make a very attractive duo.

30wks

Aiden put King Triton on the nameboard, and it is now holding a concerning number of votes. I think he was even surprised.

The medical center finished construction, the interior is almost done, most of the rooms are still empty, there has been an obvious pack bias toward working on the maternity suites.

Gypsy Moon has over two hundred wolves now. I don't remember the last time I actually went outside. Other than his morning runs, Aiden has lived in his office for almost a week. Bryce has taken over the runs to Dei's village, he and Samuel are constantly in and out.

Lilian has the house running smoothly, as if we've been here for years instead of only three months. She's got wolves working in groups two days after joining the pack. I'm fairly certain Aiden is responsible for starting the rumor she's a witch. That's what he yells every other time she pops up next to him, anyway.

-----

I smiled as Gyam paced anxiously around the courtyard. He'd gotten so bad, Lilian called an early day and threw Aiden and I both outside so he would stop pacing in the packhouse. Rain took Tia to Sacramento for a spa day and 'a few essentials'. Her wolf should have woken sometime this afternoon and they should be back home anytime now. Of course, that meant Gyam hadn't seen her in several hours and was at the end of his rope. Bryce and Samuel spent the day moving Tia's room into the Alpha wing after Rain drove off with her.

Aiden and I joined a yoga class along with half a dozen she-wolves in the late afternoon sun, Bryce proving to be a skilled and patient teacher. The rest of the pack was similarly taking advantage of the unexpected afternoon off and had an impressive pyre built in the bonfire pit. The ATVs were racing across the campus, dozens of wolves were scattered around in little groups, playing games or relaxing.

Lilian strolled over wearing an over-sized sweater and embroidered jeans. She was sipping a beer and listening to her headphones, pausing to dance a little every few feet. Kyle flashed past on one of the dirt bikes, racing with a handful of wolves. I let Aiden help me to my feet and Lilian poked one of her earbuds into my ear so I could dance with her. I have no idea what the song was. I'm pretty sure they were singing in Russian. I laughed when my cub rolled dramatically in response to my dancing.

"He likes this song." Aiden leaned close to us to listen and grinned. His eyes clouded and a few minutes later a man jogged over with a soundbar, trailing an extension cord. Lilian giggled and hooked her phone up to it, filling the courtyard with her energetic music. She wiggled her finger at the guy that brought it out.

"Now get some tape and tape down the cord before someone trips and unplugs it." She cranked up the volume and several wolves helped secure the cord so they could join her. Gyam joined the dancing enthusiastically, he had energy to burn and enjoyed the distraction.

The sun was starting to set when Rain pulled up with Tia. She was gorgeous, her hair was pulled up in a loose pile of chocolate curls, exposing her neck and bare shoulders. She was wearing a bright red boat-neck sweater and a pair of skinny jeans, every inch of her glowing from the day of pampering.

Gyam froze when he saw her. Someone paused the music, and everyone watched her close her eyes and sniff the air. Her eyes were black when they opened and she ran to Gyam, who was still making his best impression of a deer in headlights. Tia lifted her hand to his cheek and smiled crookedly.

"You need to breathe, mate-" Gyam silenced her with a possessive growl, sealing his lips over hers in a fiery kiss while the pack cheered. He pulled her against his chest, her toes dangling several inches off the ground, his growl changing pitch slightly as he devoured her mouth. They were both panting when they finally broke the kiss. Tia looked like she might faint and Gyam looked like he'd been through a tornado. Aiden whooped and the whole pack broke into cheers and congratulations again.

Lilian turned the music back up slowly, and Bryce went to the pyre to light it. I took the opportunity to throw Gyam a wink and laced my fingers through Aiden's. The couple blushed, but shortly did disappear from the bonfire. Rain met my gaze, and we shared a knowing smirk.

. . . . . .